Heavy rains lash northeastern parishes

RJR News has been receiving reports that heavy rains have been lashing the northeastern section of the island since Friday.  

Callers say parts of Portland and St. Ann are now flooded.  

Some residents have been washed out of their homes, while others are stranded.  

Maureen Darlington, a resident of Lime Hall, in St. Ann, describes what has been happening since the rains started.

“Ever since last night we had rain, but by 10 o’clock we had this constant rain, heavy rains. Right now the pond overflow and flood out two houses around here, no one can come out of their houses,” Ms. Darlington said.

And, Father Arokiadas Francis, from Port Antonio, told our newscentre how the rains have been affecting Portland.

“Coming from Port Antonio we have been having rains all night and into this morning. There is a lot of water in St. Margaret’s Bay, Hope Bay, all the culverts and rivers are looking very high, there is a lot of water,”

“Coming into Buff Bay there is heavy, heavy, heavy rain. High Street seems flooded and there is a lot of water on the main road, there is a lot of debris and stones washing down, all the way to Annotto Bay, Dover, everywhere there is a lot of rain,” he said.

Highgate and Port Maria, in St. Mary, are also experiencing heavy showers. 

In the meantime, the Meteorological Office of Jamaica says there is no significant feature affecting the northeastern section of the island.  

The Met office says the rains are a common feature, at this time of the year.